In a searing public rebuke, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took direct aim at two of America’s most established publicly funded news outlets, NPR and PBS, accusing them of being nothing more than “partisan propaganda machines hiding behind taxpayer dollars.”
The fiery remarks came during a surprise briefing at the White House, where Leavitt addressed growing concerns from conservative lawmakers and voters about media bias and government funding. But few expected the Press Secretary to go this far, this fast.
“These are not honest news organizations,” Leavitt declared. “NPR refused to cover Hunter Biden’s laptop. PBS called President Trump a racist — from the Oval Office itself. And let’s not forget: NPR’s own CEO was spotted wearing a Biden campaign hat. If that’s journalism, then I’m the Queen of England.”
Her tone was unapologetic, her message surgical: the administration is done footing the bill for what it sees as ideological favoritism masquerading as public service journalism.
Targeting NPR and PBS — With Receipts
Leavitt didn’t stop at rhetoric. She came with examples, dates, and direct accusations:
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NPR’s alleged suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story in the final weeks of the 2020 election — a topic that has since resurfaced with increasing credibility across multiple outlets.
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PBS airing segments in 2021 that labeled former President Trump as a “white supremacist sympathizer” during a sit-down Oval Office analysis piece — a characterization Leavitt claims was “reckless, defamatory, and politically loaded.”
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NPR’s CEO, Katherine Maher, reportedly photographed wearing pro-Biden merchandise during the campaign trail, which critics say undermines the outlet’s claim to neutrality.
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PBS providing January 6 Capitol footage to the DOJ without clear documentation of consent or legal obligation, a move some conservatives believe may breach journalistic ethics.
“You can’t call yourself neutral,” Leavitt snapped, “while acting like a communications wing of the DNC.”
“And YOU Fund It All.”
One of the most viral moments from the briefing — already clipped and circulating on social media — came when Leavitt turned directly to the cameras and addressed the American public:
“And YOU fund it all. Your taxes. Your money. For years, you’ve been told you’re paying for education, for culture, for public service. But what you’re really paying for is narrative manipulation.”
The remark drew immediate reactions online, with conservative figures praising Leavitt’s candor and liberal commentators calling it “a calculated attack on press freedom.”
Funding on the Chopping Block?
Following the briefing, multiple sources confirmed that the administration is preparing legislation to significantly reduce — or entirely eliminate — federal funding for NPR and PBS in the 2026 fiscal year budget.
While such moves have been proposed before (notably during Trump’s first term), they’ve historically failed in the Senate. But with a new wave of conservative populists holding key appropriations seats, this time may be different.
House Majority Whip Jackson Cole released a statement echoing Leavitt’s remarks:
“Americans shouldn’t be forced to subsidize political bias disguised as journalism. It’s time to cut the cord.”
Critics Cry Censorship — Leavitt Fires Back
Predictably, the backlash was swift.
Media advocacy groups and liberal think tanks condemned the press secretary’s comments as an authoritarian-style assault on the free press, warning that the defunding effort could “pave the way for government-approved media only.”
But Leavitt doubled down.
“We’re not silencing anyone. NPR and PBS can say whatever they want. But they can do it on their own dime — not yours.”
A Calculated Political Move — or a Culture War Moment?
Analysts say this confrontation is about more than budget line items — it’s a calculated strike in the broader culture war, designed to rally the GOP base, draw lines ahead of the 2026 midterms, and reignite the battle over media trust in the post-Trump era.
Media strategist Erin Mallory called it “a masterclass in narrative inversion.”
“By flipping the script and framing public broadcasters as ideological agents, Leavitt is weaponizing the exact language those outlets use against others.”
And it’s working.
Polls conducted just days before the announcement show trust in NPR among right-leaning voters has dropped below 15%, the lowest since polling began.
Final Thought: Public Media in the Crosshairs
Whether one sees Karoline Leavitt’s tirade as truth-telling or intimidation, one fact is clear: America’s relationship with publicly funded media is at a breaking point.
And as political lines harden, the question is no longer what media tells the truth — it’s whose truth gets funded.
